Apparatus for lifting and/or moving operations of drilling equipment

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for lifting and/or moving operations of drilling equipment on a deck, the apparatus includes a load-bearing device, a synchronizing device, a synchronizing linkage comprising at least one guide which receives the synchronizing device, and a suspension device comprising at least one lifting arm. The at least one lifting arm comprises a first torque arm and a second torque arm. The first torque arm comprises a first end connected to the suspension device, and a second end connected to the synchronizing linkage so as to provide a first synchronizing link. The second torque arm comprises a first end connected to the synchronizing linkage so as to provide a second synchronizing link, and a second end connected to the load-bearing device. The first torque arm and the second torque arm are respectively further connected via the first synchronizing link and the second synchronizing link to the synchronizing device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2014/057169, filed on Apr. 9, 2014 and which claims benefit to Norwegian Patent Application No. 20130477, filed on Apr. 10, 2013. The International Application was published in English on Oct. 16, 2014 as WO 2014/167006 A2 under PCT Article 21(2).

FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for lifting and/or moving operations on a deck, such as a drilling deck, comprising at least one lifting arm. The apparatus is especially useful for lifting and/or moving loads, such as pipes, between different stations.

BACKGROUND

The present invention can be used both onshore and offshore.

In the oil and gas industry, pipes are used to create a fluid connection between a platform and a borehole. The pipe forming the fluid connection can, for example, be a drill string in addition to being other types of pipe. The drill string is used to form a borehole as the drill string penetrates further and further into the earth's crust. A drill string is usually formed by screwing together drill pipes in threes or fours (three to four drill pipes=one stand, 27 to 40 meters in length) for interim storage in a fingerboard before one stand at a time is screwed to the existing drill string to then follow the drill string into the earth's crust. So-called “iron roughnecks” are used to screw and unscrew the drill pipes, and a number of companies supply these devices. An iron roughneck generally consists of a two-piece wrench unit and a spinning device. The spinning device rotates a joint of drill pipe relative to another joint of drill pipe in order either to screw the two joints of drill pipe together or to unscrew them from each other. The wrench unit provides the torque necessary for the screwing or unscrewing operation.

Because limited space is available on a typical drill floor, it is often necessary to be able to move equipment, such as iron roughnecks, guide devices, gripping devices etc., ahead of, during, or after drilling operations. It may be necessary to move equipment between different locations, for example, to and from the well center, to and from a storage location for pipes, such as a fingerboard, or into a stowed position.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,178,612 B2 describes an apparatus to move an iron roughneck into position to allow for the making-up or breaking-out of threaded joints in a drill string. The apparatus may be configured as a dual parallelogram arm. U.S. Pat. No. 7,178,612 B2 shows a plurality of embodiments of how the point of connection between a lower and an upper support arm is arranged. In all illustrated embodiments, the torque is transferred “transversely” through the point of connection, from a lower support arm, via the point of connection point having different configurations for torque transfer, to a diagonally opposite upper support arm. The torque arms are described to furthermore be in direct contact with each other or, alternatively, the torque armes are in contact with each other via a single linkage.

US 2011/0108264 A1 describes an articulated apparatus for handing drilling equipment, the apparatus comprising a base, a first set of arms pivotally connected at one end to the base, a joint member pivotally connected to another end of the first set of arms, a second set of arms pivotally connected at one end to the joint member, and a carrier assembly pivotally connected to an opposite end of the second set of arms. A drive system cooperates with the first and second sets of arms to move the drilling tool between a stowed position and a deployed position.

A disadvantage of the prior art is that the movement of the parallelogram arm is not parallel to the floor or the underlying surface, and that the parallelogram arm will thus have different heights during deployment. This requires an extra clearance below the load to prevent a collision with the underlying surface. The tool furthermore does not necessarily encounter the load each time at the same height, which in some situations will require a height adjustment of the tool (the parallelogram arm).

Other prior art embodiments will cause the torque transfer to take place in that the lower support arm must be made to have an elongated arm to fix the point of connection between the arms, which point of connection is fixed to the elongated arm of the upper support arm. This will set specific requirements regarding a minimum size of the load transfer connection, which in turn sets design-limiting requirements as to the height between the arms, the distance between the attachment of the lower and upper support arms, and as to how much torque can be transferred due to gearing.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that provides a rectilinear movement of the lifting arm, parallel with the drill floor, while providing greater freedom in relation to the design of the lifting arm.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides an apparatus for lifting and/or moving operations of drilling equipment on a deck, the apparatus comprising a load-bearing device, at least one common synchronizing device, a synchronizing linkage comprising at least one guide which is configured to receive the least one common synchronizing device, and a suspension device comprising at least one lifting arm. The at least one lifting arm comprises at least one pair of torque arms comprising a first torque arm and a second torque arm. The first torque arm comprises a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the suspension device, and the second end being connected to the synchronizing linkage so as to provide a first synchronizing link. The second torque arm comprises a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the synchronizing linkage so as to provide a second synchronizing link, and the second end being connected to the load-bearing device. The first torque arm and the second torque arm are respectively further connected via the first synchronizing link and the second synchronizing link to the at least one common synchronizing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in greater detail below on the basis of embodiments and of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a lifting arm according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the position of the synchronizing device where the lifting arm is in a fully extended position;

FIG. 3 shows the position of the synchronizing device where the lifting arm is in a partially extended position;

FIG. 4 shows the position of the synchronizing device where the lifting arm is in a partially retracted position;

FIG. 5 shows the position of the synchronizing device where the lifting arm is in a wholly retracted position;

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the synchronizing linkage;

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the synchronizing linkage;

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a lifting arm according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which the first torque arm and the second torque arm are arranged above the first synchronizing arm and the second synchronizing arm; and

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment in which the first torque arm and the second torque arm are arranged below the first synchronizing arm and the second synchronizing arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for lifting and/or moving operations of drilling equipment on a deck comprising a suspension device having at least one lifting arm, wherein the at least one lifting arm comprises at least one pair of torque arms comprising at least a first torque arm and a second torque arm, wherein a first end of the first torque arm is connected to the suspension device, and a second end of the first torque arm is connected to a synchronizing linkage; wherein a first end of the second torque arm is connected to the synchronizing linkage, and a second end of the second torque arm is connected to a load-bearing device, and wherein the first and the second torque arm, through their respective synchronizing link, are further connected to at least one common synchronizing device.

The present invention disclosed herein will provide that all arm attachment points are always parallel to each other, which in turn means that the load-bearing device will remain parallel to the floor, for example, a drill floor.

The torque transfer in the synchronizing linkage according to the present invention has at least three separate elements: the two synchronizing links that are connected to their respective torque arm, and the synchronizing device. The suspension device, to which the lifting arm is connected, can shift the lifting arm in a vertical movement, up or down, to raise or lower a load above the floor.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the lifting arm can, for example, further comprise at least a first and a second synchronizing arm, the first torque arm being arranged parallel to at least the first synchronizing arm, and wherein a first end of the first synchronizing arm is connected to the suspension device, and a second end of the first synchronizing arm is connected to the synchronizing linkage, wherein the second torque arm is arranged parallel to at least the second synchronizing arm, and wherein a first end of the second synchronizing arm is connected to the synchronizing linkage, and a second end of the second synchronizing arm is connected to the load-bearing device.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the synchronizing linkage can, for example, comprise at least one guide to receive the at least one synchronizing device.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the synchronizing linkage can, for example, be arranged perpendicular to a motive device for the at least one lifting arm.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the synchronizing device can, for example, comprise at least one wheel, at least one slide block, or at least one roller bearing.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the synchronizing device can, for example, comprise a shaft to which the synchronizing links can be connected.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the synchronizing link can, for example, comprise one or more beams.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one lifting arm can, for example, further comprise a motive device to move the at least one lifting arm. In an embodiment, the motive device can, for example, comprise a cylinder, or an electric motor, or another device that causes the lifting arm to move.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the motive device can, for example, be connected to the suspension device at its first end and to the first or the second torque arm at its second end. The motive device can alternatively be connected to the first or the second synchronizing arrangement.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the lifting arm can, for example, further comprise at least one other synchronizing linkage connected to the second end of the second torque arm, and a third torque arm connected to the second synchronizing linkage at one end thereof, and where the second and third torque arms, through their respective synchronizing link, are further connected to at least one common synchronizing device.

Several non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which the same parts are indicated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a lifting arm 1 according to the present invention. The lifting arm 1 is connected to a suspension device 6 at one end thereof. The lifting arm 1 has a first pair of torque arms comprising a first torque arm 2 and a second torque arm 3. A first end of the first torque arm 2 is connected to the suspension device 6, and a second end of the first torque arm 2 is connected to a synchronizing linkage 9 at a first point of attachment 14. A first end of the second torque arm 3 is connected to the same synchronizing linkage 9 as the first torque arm 2 at a second point of attachment 15 to allow a transfer torque from the first torque arm 2 to the second torque arm 3. A second end of the second torque arm 3 is connected to a load-bearing device 7 at a fifth point of attachment 18.

The synchronizing linkage 9 comprises a first synchronizing link 10 and a second synchronizing link 11, where the first synchronizing link 10 is connected to the first torque arm 2 at one end thereof and to a synchronizing device 12 at its other end, and the second synchronizing link 11 is connected to the synchronizing device 12 at one end thereof and the second torque arm 3 at its other end. At least one guide 13, for receiving the synchronizing device 12, is arranged in the synchronizing linkage 9. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide 13 is arranged vertically, and will thus allow a vertical movement, but prevent a horizontal movement, of the synchronizing device 12.

There is further shown a first synchronizing arm 4 and a second synchronizing arm 5. The first synchronizing arm 4 is arranged parallel to the first torque arm 2. A first end of the first synchronizing arm 4 is connected to the suspension device 6, and a second end of the first synchronizing arm 4 is connected to the synchronizing linkage 9 at a third point of attachment 16. The second synchronizing arm 5 is arranged parallel to the second torque arm 5. A first end of the second synchronizing arm 5 is connected to the synchronizing linkage 9 at a fourth point of attachment 17, and a second end of the second synchronizing arm 5 is connected to the load-bearing device 7 at a sixth point of attachment 19.

A motive device 8, shown as a cylinder 8, is connected to the suspension device 6 at one end thereof and to the second synchronizing arm 5 at its other end. In other embodiments, the motive device 8 may be connected to any of the first torque arm 2, the second torque arm 3, or the first synchronizing arm 4. The motive device 8 may alternatively be connected to a synchronizing linkage or between arms, such as between the first torque arm 2 and the second torque arm 3, or between the first synchronizing arm 4 and second synchronizing arm 5. If the lifting arm 1 comprises more torque arms or synchronizing arms than those that can be seen from the Figure, the motive device 8 can be connected to each of them.

In operation, the motive device 8 will control the movement of the second synchronizing arm 5, which will move the second torque arm 3 in parallel. A rotary movement of the second torque arm 3, as a result of motion of the motive device 8, will force the second synchronizing link 11 to push on the synchronizing device 12, which will force the first synchronizing link 10 into an opposite rotary movement relative to the second synchronizing link 11, and thereby an opposite movement to the first torque arm 2. The first torque arm 2 and the second torque arm 3 will therefore essentially, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, always form the same angle relative to a vertical plane through the synchronizing linkage 9 (i.e., mirror-symmetrical about the synchronizing linkage 9).

FIGS. 2 to 5 show the position of the synchronizing device 12 in different positions of the lifting arm 1. FIG. 2 shows the lifting arm 1 in a fully extended position. In this position the synchronizing device 12 will be uppermost in the guide 13 while the first torque arm 2 and second torque arm 3 are in a deployed position, each of the first torque arm 2 and the second torque arm 3 having an angle of extension of about 60 degrees. In FIG. 3, the lifting arm 1 is in a partially extended position compared to that which can be seen in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 shows the lifting arm 1 in a partially retracted position, while in FIG. 5, the lifting arm 1 is in a wholly retracted position.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show alternatives of the synchronizing linkage 9. FIG. 7 shows the inside of the synchronizing linkage 9 and the connections between the first synchronizing link 10 and the second synchronizing link 11, the first torque arm 2 and the second torque arm 3, the synchronizing device 12 in the guide 13 etc. FIG. 7, moreover, shows details of a first connecting lug 20 arranged on the first torque arm 2, which first connecting lug 20 connects the first torque arm 2 to the first synchronizing link 10, and a second connecting lug 21 on the second torque arm 3, which second connecting lug 21 connects the second torque arm 3 to the second synchronizing link 11.

Although the illustrated embodiments are shown with the first torque arm 2 and the second torque arm 3 arranged below the first synchronizing arm 4 and the second synchronizing arm 5, it should be understood that the first torque arm 2 and the second torque arm 3 can also be arranged above the first synchronizing arm 4 and the second synchronizing arm 5. An example of such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 8. A person of skill in the art will furthermore understand that although the illustrated embodiments show the lifting arm 1 to have a “V-shape”, it is also possible to turn the lifting arm 1 the other way so that it will form an inverted “V-shape”; examples of this are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which the first torque arm 2 and the second torque arm 3 are arranged above the first synchronizing arm 4 and the second synchronizing arm 5, while FIG. 10 shows the first torque arm 2 and the second torque arm 3 to be arranged below the first synchronizing arm 4 and the second synchronizing arm 5.

The embodiments described herein should be regarded as non-limiting. A person of skill in the art could make modifications or changes to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the attached claims. Although the lifting arm described herein is described in connection with an iron roughneck, it should be understood that the apparatus could also be used to move or lift other elements, such as a mud box, casing tong, grease for pipe threads, a centering arm etc. There may furthermore be more torque arms and the synchronizing arm synchronizing arms connected to the illustrated examples, so that a lifting arm can comprise at least three torque arms, with associated higher number of synchronizing linkages. Reference should be had to the appended claims. 

What is claimed is: 1-10. (canceled)
 11. An apparatus for lifting and/or moving operations of drilling equipment on a deck, the apparatus comprising: a load-bearing device; at least one common synchronizing device; a synchronizing linkage comprising at least one guide which is configured to receive the least one common synchronizing device; and a suspension device comprising at least one lifting arm, the at least one lifting arm comprising at least one pair of torque arms comprising a first torque arm and a second torque arm, the first torque arm comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the suspension device, and the second end being connected to the synchronizing linkage so as to provide a first synchronizing link, the second torque arm comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the synchronizing linkage so as to provide a second synchronizing link, and the second end being connected to the load-bearing device, and the first torque arm and the second torque arm being respectively further connected via the first synchronizing link and the second synchronizing link to the at least one common synchronizing device.
 12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one lifting arm further comprises: a first synchronizing arm comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the suspension device, and the second end being connected to the synchronizing linkage, and a second synchronizing arm comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the synchronizing linkage, and the second end being connected to the load-bearing device, wherein, the first torque arm is arranged parallel to the first synchronizing arm, and the second torque arm is arranged parallel to the second synchronizing arm.
 13. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one guide is arranged perpendicular to a direction of travel of the at least one lifting arm.
 14. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein in that the at least one common synchronizing device comprises at least one wheel, at least one slide block or at least one roller bearing.
 15. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one common synchronizing device comprises a shaft to which each of the first synchronizing link and the second synchronizing link are connected.
 16. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the first synchronizing link and the second synchronizing link each comprise at least one beam.
 17. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one lifting arm further comprises a motive device configured to move the at least one lifting arm.
 18. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the motive device comprises a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the suspension device, and the second end being connected to the first torque arm or to the second torque arm.
 19. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the motive device comprises a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the suspension device, and the second end being connected to the first synchronizing arm or to the second synchronizing arm. 